A year after the program was almost dropped, the Russellville Lady Cyclones won the 2007 Arkansas state title in gymnastics this past Saturday, and they did it without any seniors. Hard work has paid off for the Lady Cyclones who have had little support for the program which started in 1974.

"You want to see those kids who work so hard to do well and their work to pay off," Lady Cyclone coach June Carnahan said.

Gymnastics competitors are held into two different classes. Class A competes for the school and a private club. They practice about 20 hours a week and year-round. Class B competes solely for the school. Beginners classes are started in the eighth grade. Brooke Sherrill, Grace Kellner and Lindsey Helms have helped the team since the seventh grade.

Junior Haley Henderson assumed the role of team leader, winning four of her five events, including all-around. In Class B, Henderson scored on uneven bars (8.25), on vault (8.95), on the balance beam (9.5), for a score of 35.25 all-around. She finished fourth in the floor exercise with a score of (8.55).

Grace Kellner, a Class A competitor and Level 8 gymnast, had similar results, taking four out of her five events. Kellner placed first on the uneven bars with a score a (8.9), second on the vault with a score of (8.5), first on the balance beam with a (9.3), first in the floor exercise with a (8.85), and first all-around with a score of (35.55). Altogether, the team was focused on winning the championship.

"If you're a gymnast you're a very skilled athlete," Carnahan said.

Class A results are as follows

Uneven Bars

1. Kellner, 8.9

2. Kaycee Austin, 8.5

3. Sherrill, 8.3

4. Connie Modica, 8.275

5. Helms, 7.25

Vault

1. Austin, 8.9

2. Kellner, 8.5

3. Modica, 8.45

4. Helms, 8.35

5. Sherrill, 8.1

Balance Beam

1. Kellner, 9.3

2. Austin, 9.2

3. Sherrill, 8.85

4. Modica, 8.6

5. Helms, 8.0

Floor Exercise

1. Kellner, 8.85

2. Austin, 8.5

3. Sherrill, 8.05

4. Modica, 7.8

5. Helms, 7.75

All Around

1. Kellner, 35.55

2. Austin, 35.1

3. Sherrill, 33.3

4. Modica, 33.125

5. Helms, 31.35

Class B results

Uneven Bars

1. Henderson, 8.25

Vault

1. Henderson, 8.95

Balance Beam

1. Henderson, 9.5

Floor Exercise

4. Henderson, 8.55

All Around

1. Henderson, 35.25

Carnahan added they were very proud of their accomplishments stating that the gymnasts hit all their routines beautifully and were focused on this meet. The team hopes to continue its success and hopes to gain more support for gymnastics which will not be dropped this year.

Six Lady Cyclones earned All-State honors. They were Henderson, Kellner, Kaycee Austin, Brooke Sherrill, Connie Modica and Lindsey Helms. They were also named All-Arkansas.